Featured Story
April/May 2006
Realizing God’s Vision in Castanhal, Brazil
It has been
a three year journey since Scott and Becky Joellenbeck first
answered the call to become directors of the Arms of Love
Children’s Home, but the preparation phase is nearly over.
As part of phase one, they recently finished a three-month
Children At Risk training sponsored by Youth With A Mission
(YWAM).
Though the
class was held in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, their classmates
and the course leader together represented eight different
countries and spoke nine different languages fluently! “In
the class we found ourselves surrounded by people from
around the world,” said Becky Joellenbeck. “It was inspiring
to hear the visions God has given these young adults and to
see them moving toward realizing their vision!”
During
these three months, there was much to learn, as the
ministries in Belo Horizonte were extensive. The
organization there started as a rescue operation for street
children in the mid-80s, and since then has grown into a
multi-dimensional ministry that includes the following:
Rescue
House: As workers are able to persuade children from
homeless camps or those on the street to make a change in
their lives, they bring them to the Rescue House. These
overnight facilities serve as a triage area for children
received directly from the street. They work with local
juvenile authorities and the child’s family for
reunification.
Lighthouse: This community center, which reaches about
200 to 300 people per year, is located in the largest slum
with a population of about 180,000. The center offers
discipleship groups, sports clubs and tutoring/enrichment
programs for kids as well as literacy and job skills classes
for adults.
House of
the Sower: Approximately 12 deaf children learn sign
language, tutoring and training kids to be disciples in this
day program.
Renew
House: A new ministry for homeless street girls who are
pregnant. The girls will live there before and after giving
birth.
The Belo
Horizonte ministry also operates three permanent homes for
boys 12 years and older, for girls 9 years and older and
another home for children with AIDS of all ages. In all,
they care for about 60 children.
Working in
the context of this established, diverse ministry to
children at risk – combined with extensive course work – has
given the Joellenbecks a strong foundation to be the new
directors for Arms of Love Brazil. The Joellenbecks first
learned that approximately 5 percent or 8 million Brazilian
children are abandoned. They studied the profile of a pure
street child, the process of family disintegration, and also
how it effects the broader society. They learned about the
behavioral and lifestyle characteristics of street children
and the different types of housing required when working
with street kids. Discipline programs and attachment issues
faced by abandoned children were also addressed.
Integrated
with the class room time was hands-on experience with the
children. Every week, the Joellenbecks worked in one of the
houses and helped with the outreach, visiting neighboring
homes with the staff. They also accompanied the staff to
places where street kids hang out. They sang worship songs,
prayed, played soccer and other games to get to know the
kids.
While
working in the children homes in Belo Horizonte, the
Joellenbecks found it interesting to compare the programs to
the Arms of Love approach. Unlike the profile of an
Arms of
Love child, the majority of the boys and girls still had
some family in Belo Horizonte. Most of the focus of the
ministry was to reintegrate the family through regular
visits with their biological families or “weekend” foster
families. Therefore, the hoes did not have any house
parents, but rather full time staff working various shifts.
The children eat in groups, often without staff present.
However,
just like Arms of Love, the program in Belo Horizonte is
Christ centered. The homes emphasize Christian discipleship
and modeling our lives in the image of Christ. Spiritual
healing is also emphasized and the staff considers their
role as a ministry to children.
“During
times of prayer and during the training, the Lord impressed
upon us the future possibility of opening a community center
in the poorer neighborhoods in Castanhal,” said Scott
Joellenbeck. “The Lord also spoke to us about the probability
of helping children with HIV/AIDS.”
After three
months of classes, meeting kids on the streets, writing book
reports and studying for exams, the Joellenbecks were ready
for the “real world.” But first, they celebrated with a
graduation ceremony with worship music, prayer, diplomas and
cake. The next day, they knew they were in Brazil when they
held a “churrasco” for the graduates, which is a Brazilian
BBQ. Lots of grilled chicken, steak and sausage made it a
protein lovers delight. Then, they had to say good bye to
all their new friends and return to Belem.
Sitio Shalom
Readies for Phase Two
"Shalom" is
a Hebrew word that means to "make whole" and "peace." The
30-acre property for the new Arms of Love Children’s Homes
in Castanhal is now aptly known as Sitio Shalom. The
director’s home, which was under re-construction last year,
has been completed.
At the time
of the property’s purchase, there was an existing home that
was planned as the directors´ home. In the process of making
some modifications to the house, it was discovered that the
original construction of the walls and roof were unsafe. The
decision was made to raze this structure and rebuild the
house correctly. This was a key part of phase one, which
also included architectural drawings for all of the
property’s buildings, a property site plan, a security wall
fronting the property and equipment for maintaining the
property.
Though the
completion of phase one, including the Joellenbeck’s home, is
a triumph and a milestone, it is only the first step toward
receiving children at the sitio. In the second phase, the
first two children’s homes will be built to house two
families, one for girls and one for boys. In addition, the
caretaker’s home will be rebuilt and relocated to better
serve the facility.
Each house
will be a home for 8 to 10 children, along with house
parents. The total cost
for each of the first two homes is $50,000. Rebuilding the
caretakers´ home and improvement to
the driveway will cost an additional $18,000. Completion of
this phase is projected by early 2007, dependent on
receiving the funds for the project.
The
property has much to offer the children,
featuring a swimming pool, an outdoor shelter with a BBQ
pit, and a spring-fed pond. The remainder of the property
will continue to be used for agricultural purposes. Many
types of fruit trees and acreage will serve as valuable
resources to the children and for the operations of the
home.
This
summer, the Joellenbecks will be spending two months in the
U.S. connecting with their home church and their personal
supporters, while also raising awareness of the Arms of Love
vision for Brazil. After returning to Brazil at the end of
August, construction on the first children’s home will
begin.
Later this
year, the Joellenbecks will begin the legal processes of
working with the Child Welfare Judge and the local juvenile
authorities to begin receiving children. Once they begin
receiving children, they will be reporting regularly to the
juvenile judge. A good relationship with the juvenile court
system will be mandatory as most of the children will
probably come through the local judges.
Through
Arms of Love, we believe that God will raise up a new
generation of young people that will grow up strong in His
Word and Spirit and become disciples and leaders in their
community. It is our commitment to give each child the
opportunity to fully develop his gifts and fulfill the
calling God has placed on his life. It is only through God’s
love that they can be healed of their past and then go out
in strength to advance the kingdom of God in Brazil and
across the other corners of the world.
